FunMuseSens: Sensing fungi in museums

The project

FunMuseSens is developing a smart sensor system that detects fungal growth in museum environments long before visible damage occurs.
Meet the team

The interdisciplinary team behind FunMuseSens combines expertise in heritage science, microbiology, sensor technology, and artificial intelligence.

Short Facts

Project title

FunMuseSens – Fungal Monitoring for Preventive Conservation in Museums

Project aim

Development of a low-cost sensing system for the early detection of fungal growth in museums and archives, enabling preventive conservation of cultural heritage objects.

Approach

The project combines electronic sensors, fungal biology, and machine learning to detect microbial activity directly in exhibition and storage environments without costly laboratory analysis.

Application

Miniaturized continuous monitoring systems that can be deployed in museum showcases, storage rooms, and archives to detect early fungal risk and support conservation decisions.

Project duration

2026 – 2029

Partners

Institute of Natural Sciences and Technology in the Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna

Biochemical Network Analysis at the University of Vienna

International Council of Museums Austria

Funding

Heritage Science Austria 2.0 of the Austrian Academy of Sciences

About FunMuseSens

The challenge

Fungi pose a growing threat to museum collections, especially as climate change increases humidity and challenges traditional climate control. FunMuseSens develops a novel, ultra-sensitive sensor system that detects fungal growth at its earliest stages - long before visible damage occurs.

The technology

By combining low-cost chemical sensors with artificial intelligence, the system identifies characteristic airborne compounds released by fungi in real time. Unlike conventional monitoring methods, it operates continuously, requires no laboratory analysis, and can be deployed directly in exhibition spaces, storage rooms, and historic buildings.

Why it matters

This approach enables preventive conservation: curators and conservators receive early warnings, can act before infestations spread, and can confidently adopt more energy-efficient climate strategies. The technology is compact, affordable, and designed to function independently, making it accessible not only to large institutions but also to smaller museums and archives.